Plant Families Research Articles

Properties and medical applications of the Euphorbiaceae family and their bioproducts: a patent review.

Euphorbiaceae is a family of dicotyledonous angiosperm plants that occur mainly in the tropics and produce a variety of secondary metabolites. Given the abundance of the Euphorbiaceae species and the diversity of substances they produce, this study aims to investigate paten documents concerning inventions and models involving the pharmacological use of these species, contributing to the study of their medicinal potential. The present review delves into patent documents in the Patentscope database, from the application of search criteria, such as "simple search" with the "Euphorbiaceae" keyword, limited to the front page, with stemming, without language limitation, from any patent office, and excluding non-patent literature (NPL). The selected patents were prevalently published in East Asian offices between 1998 and 2023, including 41 species of Euphorbiaceae of 19 genera, with 31 metabolites represented. The collected metabolites predominantly exhibited anti-tumoral (N = 21), anti-inflammatory (N = 10), antioxidant (N = 7), and anti-bacterial (N = 6) activities. Additionally, some substances have shown valid properties for treating non-communicable diseases (N = 8). The patents demonstrate the biotechnological potential of species from the Euphorbiaceae family, which are exceptionally satile regarding their applications in the health sector. However, the small number of patents that identify specific metabolites hinders a more thorough investigation of the activities of the products extracted from these species.

A continental-scale analysis reveals the latitudinal gradient of stomatal density across amphistomatous species: evolutionary history vs. present-day environment.

Amphistomy is a potential method for increasing photosynthetic rate; however, the latitudinal gradients of stomatal density across amphistomatous species and their drivers remain unknown. Here, the adaxial stomatal density (SDad) and abaxial stomatal density (SDab) of 486 amphistomatous species-site combinations, belonging to 32 plant families, were collected from China, and their total stomatal density (SDtotal) and stomatal ratio (SR) were calculated. Overall, these four stomatal traits did not show significant phylogenetic signals. There were no significant differences in SDab and SDtotal between woody and herbaceous species, but SDad and SR were higher in woody species than in herbaceous species. Besides, a significantly positive relationship between SDab and SDad was observed. We also found that stomatal density (including SDab, SDad and SDtotal) decreased with latitude, whereas SR increased with latitude, and temperature seasonality was the most important environmental factor driving it. Besides, evolutionary history (represented by both phylogeny and species) explained ~10- to 22-fold more of the variation in stomatal traits than the present-day environment (65.2-71.1 vs. 2.9-6.8 %). Our study extended our knowledge of trait-environment relationships and highlighted the importance of evolutionary history in driving stomatal trait variability.

A review on endophytic bacteria of orchids: functional roles toward synthesis of bioactive metabolites for plant growth promotion and disease biocontrol.

In this review, we have discussed the untapped potential of orchid endophytic bacteria as a valuable reservoir of bioactive metabolites, offering significant contributions to plant growth promotion and disease protection in the context of sustainable agriculture. Orchidaceae is one of the broadest and most diverse flowering plant families on Earth. Although the relationship between orchids and fungi is well documented, bacterial endophytes have recently gained attention for their roles in host development, vigor, and as sources of novel bioactive compounds. These endophytes establish mutualistic relationships with orchids, influencing plant growth, mineral solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and protection from environmental stress and phytopathogens. Current research on orchid-associated bacterial endophytes is limited, presenting significant opportunities to discover new species or genetic variants that improve host fitness and stress tolerance. The potential for extracting bioactive compounds from these bacteria is considerable, and optimization strategies for their sustainable production could significantly enhance their commercial utility. This review discusses the methods used in isolating and identifying endophytic bacteria from orchids, their diversity and significance in promoting orchid growth, and the production of bioactive compounds, with an emphasis on their potential applications in sustainable agriculture and other sectors.

Unraveling the impact of greenhouse pepper resistance on biological performance of the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tarsonemidae)

The broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is a highly significant pest in tropical and subtropical regions, with a wide host range that encompasses over 60 plant families. In particular, it can be a major and economically damaging pest on pepper plants, causing significant losses to the crop. The life table parameters of P. latus were determined under laboratory conditions to evaluate the susceptible and resistant cultivars of greenhouse pepper among 14 pepper cultivars, including Selva, Clavesol, Kamus, Chidem, Sympathy, Sven, Kamro, Lumos, Caoba, Bellisa, Sunset, Atlantic D90, Atlantic G50, and Atlantic P5001. The total pre-adult period was significantly different on the pepper cultivars tested, in which the shortest and longest duration was recorded on Atlantic P5001 (5.02 days) and Atlantic G50 (5.94 days), respectively. Adult longevity and total life span had significant differences among pepper cultivars, in which the longest durations were observed on Kamus (21.02 and 26.36 days, respectively). The population growth parameters, including the gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and mean generation time (T), as well as the fecundity of the broad mite exhibited significant differences among the cultivars tested. Specifically, the maximum and minimum values of the intrinsic rate of increase (r) were observed in Lomus (0.319 day−1) and Sunset (0.242 day−1), respectively. The gross reproductive rate (28.33 eggs/individual) and net reproductive rate (27.18 eggs/individual) in the Kamus cultivar were significantly higher than those in the other cultivars. Our results indicated that among the pepper cultivars, Sunset, Sympathy, Chidem, and Clavesol were more resistant to P. latus compared with the others.

Sucrose Phosphate Synthase Genes in Plants: Its Role and Practice for Crop Improvement.

Plants convert solar energy and carbon dioxide into organic compounds through photosynthesis. Sucrose is the primary carbonate produced during photosynthesis. Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) is the key enzyme controlling sucrose biosynthesis in plants. There are at least three SPS gene families in higher plants, named A, B, and C. However, in monocotyledonous plants from Poaceae, there are at least five SPS gene families, named A, B, C, DIII, and DIV. Each family of SPS genes in different plants shows a divergent expression pattern. So different families of SPS genes participate in diverse biological functions, including sucrose accumulation, plant growth and production, and abiotic stress tolerance. SPS activity in plants is regulated by exogenous factors through gene expression and reversible protein phosphorylation. It is a practicable way to improve crop traits through SPS gene transformation. This work analyzes the cloning, phylogeny, and regulatory mechanism of the SPS gene in plants, reviews its biological function as well as its role in crop improvement, and discusses the challenges and future perspectives. This paper can serve as a reference for further study on plant SPS genes and eventually for crop improvement.

Phosphorus-Use-Efficiency Gene Identification in Fabaceae and RSL2 Expansion in Lupinus albus Is Associated with Low-Phosphorus Adaptation.

Phosphorus is critical for plant growth but often becomes less accessible due to its precipitation with cations in soil. Fabaceae, a diverse plant family, exhibits robust adaptability and includes species like Lupinus albus, known for its efficient phosphorus utilization via cluster roots. Here, we systematically identified phosphorus-utilization-efficiency (PUE) gene families across 35 Fabaceae species, highlighting significant gene amplification in PUE pathways in Fabaceae. Different PUE pathways exhibited variable amplification, evolution, and retention patterns among various Fabaceae crops. Additionally, the number of homologous genes of the root hair development gene RSL2 in L. albus was far more than that in other Fabaceae species. Multiple copies of the RSL2 gene were amplified and retained in L. albus after whole genome triplication. The gene structure and motifs specifically retained in L. albus were different from homologous genes in other plants. Combining transcriptome analysis under low-phosphorus treatment, it was found that most of the homologous genes of RSL2 in L. albus showed high expression in the cluster roots, suggesting that the RSL2 gene family plays an important role in the adaptation process of L. albus to low-phosphorus environments and the formation of cluster roots.

Recent Advances in Alkaloids from Papaveraceae in China: Structural Characteristics and Pharmacological Effects.

The Papaveraceae plant family serves as a botanical reservoir for a variety of medicinal compounds that have been traditionally utilized in Chinese medicine for numerous generations. Growing attention towards the pharmaceutical potential of Papaveraceae has resulted in the identification of many alkaloids, which have attracted significant attention from the scientific community because of their structural complexity and wide range of biological activities, such as analgesic, antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, and other activities, making them potential candidates for medical use. The primary objective of this review is to analyze the existing literature on the historical use of Papaveraceae plants, focusing on their alkaloid structures and relationship with pharmacological effects, as well as provide a theoretical basis for their clinical application, with the goal of unveiling the future potential of Papaveraceae plants.

Analysis of the miR482 Gene Family in Plants.

MicroRNA482 (miR482) is a conserved microRNA family in plants, playing critical regulatory roles in different biological activities. Though the members of the miR482 gene family have been identified in plants, a systematic study has not been reported yet. In the present research, 140 mature sequences generated by 106 precursors were used for molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis, and target gene prediction, and the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network mediated by miR482 was summarized. The length of mature sequences ranged from 17 nt to 25 nt, with 22 nt being the most abundant, and the start and end of the mature sequences had a preference for uracil (U). By sequence multiplex comparison, it was found that the mature sequences of 5p were clustered into one group, and others were clustered into the other group. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 140 mature sequences were categorized into six groups. Meanwhile, all the precursor sequences formed a stable hairpin structure, and the 106 precursors were divided into five groups. However, the expression of miR482 varied significantly between different species and tissues. In total, 149 target genes were predicted and their functions focused on single-organism process, cellular process, and cell and cell part. The ceRNA network of miR482 in tomato, cotton, and peanut was summarized based on related publications. In conclusion, this research will provide a foundation for further understanding of the miR482 gene family.

Evaluation and Modification of Some Traditional Methods to Extract Genomic DNA in High Quality and Quantity from Different Plant Families

Evaluation and Modification of Some Traditional Methods to Extract Genomic DNA in High Quality and Quantity from Different Plant Families

Documentation of Dye Yielding Plants in Ballari District, Karnataka

The present research carried out survey on dye yielding plants of Ballari district, Karnataka from JAN-JULY (2023-24). Enumerated total 40 dye yielding plants belonging to 33 genera and 20 families, along with their vernacular name, habit, part used. Among plant families Fabaceae is dominant with 10 species followed by Combretaceae with 5 species and Asteraceae with 3 species emerged as three dominant families. The dye yielding plants were extracted by using various techniques. The study identified and extracted natural dyes from various plant sources.

Genome-Wide Identification and Evolution-Profiling Analysis of TPS Gene Family in Triticum Plants.

Terpenoids play a crucial role in plant growth and development, as well as in regulating resistance mechanisms. Terpene synthase (TPS) serves as the final step in the synthesis process of terpenoids. However, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the TPS gene family in Triticum plants had not previously been systematically undertaken. In this study, a total of 531 TPS members were identified in Triticum plants. The evolutionary tree divided the TPS proteins into five subfamilies: Group1, Group2, Group3, Group4, and Group5. The results of the duplication events analysis showed that TD and WGD were major driving forces during the evolution of the TPS family. The cis-element analysis showed that the TPS genes were related to plant growth and development and environmental stress. Moreover, the GO annotation displayed that the biological function of TPS was relatively conserved in wheat plants. The RNA-seq data showed that the rice and wheat TPS genes responded to low-temperature stress and exhibited significantly different expression patterns. This research shed light on the functions of TPSs in responding to abiotic stress and demonstrated their modulatory potential during root development. These findings provide a foundation for further and deeper investigation of the TPSs' functions in Triticum plants.

Honey-bearing potential of dendroflora in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The floristic composition and ecological characteristics of the area where honey grazing is carried out directly define the botanical origin as well as the physical and chemical properties of honey. The goal of this research was to determine the potential of woody and shrubby plant species in the apiflora from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) based on the qualitative-quantitative palynological analysis of honey samples. In the research, 100 different types of honey samples from B&H were collected and analyzed. The melissopalinological preparations were prepared and analyzed in accordance with the Rulebook on methods for the control of honey and other bee products of B&H, as well as the methods proposed by ICBB. After the melissopalinological analysis, 25 plant families with a total of 30,000 pollen grains were identified, of which 16 were woody or shrubby plants with 18,126 pollen grains in the preparations. In the research, the most presented honey-bearing woody plants were: black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), chestnut (Castanea sativa) and linden (Tilia sp.). Each analyzed palynological profile represented a unique combination of pollen from honey-bearing plants, as a specific biological imprint of the place of honey grazing.

Advances in functional studies of plant MYC transcription factors.

Myelocytomatosis (MYC) transcription factors (TFs) belong to the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family in plants and play a central role in governing a wide range of physiological processes. These processes encompass plant growth, development, adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as secondary metabolism. In recent decades, significant strides have been made in comprehending the multifaceted regulatory functions of MYCs. This advancement has been achieved through the cloning of MYCs and the characterization of plants with MYC deficiencies or overexpression, employing comprehensive genome-wide 'omics' and protein-protein interaction technologies. MYCs act as pivotal components in integrating signals from various phytohormones' transcriptional regulators to orchestrate genome-wide transcriptional reprogramming. In this review, we have compiled current research on the role of MYCs as molecular switches that modulate signal transduction pathways mediated by phytohormones and phytochromes. This comprehensive overview allows us to address lingering questions regarding the interplay of signals in response to environmental cues and developmental shift. It also sheds light on the potential implications for enhancing plant resistance to diverse biotic and abiotic stresses through genetic improvements achieved by plant breeding and synthetic biology efforts.

Filament-like plant protein 7 (FPP7) negatively regulates rice salt tolerance by enhancing abscisic acid sensitivity and disturbing sodium and ROS homeostasis

Filament-like plant proteins are intermediate filament proteins that play a major part in the development and growth of plants. However, no systematic identification and characterization have been conducted on the FPP family in plants. Fifty nine FPP candidates were found in this work by analyzing the genomes of two dicots and four monocots. Phylogenetic analysis and multicollinearity mapping showed the relatively conserved evolution of FPP genes in monocots. Herein, eight OsFPPs were characterized and found to be induced or repressed by abiotic stresses. Additional genetic evidence shows that OsFPP7-overexpressing rice exhibited increased sensitivity to abscisic acid during the germination stage, disrupted Na+/K+ homeostasis, and disrupted the balance of reactive oxygen species during the seedling stage when exposed to salt stress. Conversely, knockout of OsFPP7 alleviated ABA sensitivity, safeguarded the antioxidant system and sodium ion transport system, and thus enhanced rice salt tolerance. The cytoskeleton, FPPs’ function in controlling salt stress and plant stress tolerance mechanisms are all further elucidated by our findings.

Comparative analysis of 12 water lily plastid genomes reveals genomic divergence and evolutionary relationships in early flowering plants

The aquatic plant Nymphaea, a model genus of the early flowering plant lineage Nymphaeales and family Nymphaeaceae, has been extensively studied. However, the availability of chloroplast genome data for this genus is incomplete, and phylogenetic relationships within the order Nymphaeales remain controversial. In this study, 12 chloroplast genomes of Nymphaea were assembled and analyzed for the first time. These genomes were 158,290–160,042 bp in size and contained 113 non-repeat genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. We also report on codon usage, RNA editing sites, microsatellite structures, and new repetitive sequences in this genus. Comparative genomics revealed that expansion and contraction of IR regions can lead to changes in the gene numbers. Additionally, it was observed that the highly variable regions of the chloroplast genome were mainly located in intergenic regions. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree showed the order Nymphaeales was divided into three families, and the genus Nymphaea can be divided into five (or three) subgenera, with the subgenus Nymphaea being the oldest. The divergence times of nymphaealean taxa were analyzed, with origins of the order Nymphaeales and family Nymphaeaceae being about 194 and 131 million years, respectively. The results of the phylogenetic analysis and estimated divergence times will be useful for future evolutionary studies of basal angiosperm lineages.

Forest fragmentation effects on mutualistic interactions: frugivorous birds and fruiting trees

While many effects of forest fragmentation are reasonably well understood, knowledge of interspecific interactions in fragmented ecosystems is much more limited, particularly for high diversity tropical forests. Using nearly 40 years of data from the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project in Central Amazonia, we assessed whether forest fragment area and time since isolation impact mutualistic interactions between frugivorous birds and their food resources. We used structural equation modeling to analyze the complex pathways between four main variables determining these interactions: fruiting tree abundance, frugivorous bird abundance, forest fragment area, and time since fragment isolation. Our results confirm that fragment area alters the abundance of some tree resources, with successional plant families increasing in abundance with decreasing fragment size. However, these changes do not drive alterations in the abundance of frugivorous birds. We also tested if bird species with a greater relative diet breadth are less vulnerable to forest fragmentation and found that specialist frugivores are more vulnerable to forest fragmentation immediately after isolation but are not differentially impacted within the long term. Collectively, our results demonstrate the need to further evaluate human‐driven habitat change across multiple timescales to fully understand its impacts on complex species interactions.

Review on Ethno Medicinal Activities of Wild Varieties of Orchids used by the Ethnic Group of Northeast India

Ethno medicine broadly refers to traditional medical practices concerned with the social and cultural impacts of health, sickness, and illness related to healthcare and healing techniques. The Orchidaceae family is one of the world's oldest and largest flowering plant families, with over 800 genera and between 25000 and 35000 species. According to the Indian government, 70% of the population practice traditional Indian medicine. In the Northeastern region, there are almost 200 tribes, and they deal with various kinds of orchids found in this region, which have potential medicinal values and traditional indigenous use, which can be effective against multiple diseases. It is essential to keep medicinal plants and perform studies on various kinds. Many plants have yet to be studied for their numerous medicinal potentials. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to develop potentially helpful drugs using proper pharmacological investigation.

Introduction of Medicinal Plants in The South of Lorestan Province

Background and aims: The present study identified the medicinal species of southern Lorestan province and explored their traditional uses and potential applications in modern medicine. Methods: The study involved face-to-face interviews and personal observations to gather information on local names and traditional medicinal uses of plants. Use value (UV) and informant consensus factor (ICF) were used to analyze the data obtained from the interviews. The UV index was calculated to determine the relative importance of medicinal species native to the region. Results: The plant species were identified using standard herbarium methods. A total of 106 medicinal species from 95 genera and 40 plant families were identified, which are utilized by locals for various medicinal purposes in southern Lorestan province. According to the findings, leaves (22.3%), seeds (19%), and fruits (14.5 %) were the most commonly used parts of medicinal species. Edible and infusion were identified as the primary treatment methods in traditional medicine in southern Lorestan province. Conclusion: The predominant therapeutic uses of medicinal species in traditional medicine in the area focused on treating digestive disorders.

Expowo: An R package for mining global plant diversity and distribution data.

Data on plant distribution and diversity from natural history collections and taxonomic databases are increasingly becoming available online as exemplified by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew's Plants of the World Online (POWO) database. This growing accumulation of biodiversity information requires an advance in bioinformatic tools for accessing and processing the massive data for use in downstream science. We present herein expowo, an open-source package that facilitates extracting and using botanical data from POWO. The expowo package is implemented in R and designed to handle the entire vascular plant tree of life. It includes functions to readily distill taxonomic and distributional information about all families, genera, or species of vascular plants. It outputs a complete list of species in each genus of any plant family, with the associated original publication, synonyms, and distribution, and plots global maps of species richness at the country and botanical country levels, as well as graphs displaying species-discovery accumulation curves and nomenclatural changes over time. To demonstrate expowo's strengths in producing easy-to-handle outputs, we also show empirical examples from a set of biodiverse countries and representative species-rich and ecologically important angiosperm families. By harnessing bioinformatic tools that accommodate varying levels of R programming proficiency, expowo functions assist users who have limited R programming expertise in efficiently distilling specific botanical information from online sources and producing maps and graphics for the further interpretation of biogeographic and taxonomic patterns.

Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Ruellia tuberosa L.: A Review.

Natural Products continue to be the purest source of physiologically active molecules employed in the identification of possible lead compounds in the drug discovery process. Acanthaceae is a big plant family with around 2500 species, found primarily in subtropical and tropical regions, as well as the Mediterranean, Australia, and the United States. Several species of the Acanthaceae family have been used traditionally to treat a variety of diseases, including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular ailments, etc. Ruellia tuberosa commonly known as "Mexican Bluebell" is a perennial herb that originated in Central America and has spread to some countries in the Southern tropics and Southeast Asia. It has been utilized as a traditional Rasayana plant from ancient times. R. tuberosa extracts and phytochemicals showed potent bioactivities, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, gastro-protective, and anthelminthic activities. Chemical analyses have unveiled a range of bioactive constituents within the plant, including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds, suggestive of its therapeutic potential. Collectively, this review provides an overview of R. tuberosa, encompassing its traditional uses, ethnomedicinal importance, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and toxicity.